Month: April 2007

DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ARMENIA IS GOING TO ACTIVELY CONTRIBUTE TO THE FORMATION OF UNITED ELECTORAL HEADQUARTERS OF THE OPPOSITION

Arminfo
2007-04-06 17:18:00

We are going to do our best for the formation of united electoral
headquarters of the opposition, the leader of the opposition Democratic
Party of Armenia, MP Aram Sargsyan said during a press-conference
today.

He said that in a few days they are expecting to receive the consent
of a number of parties and to start specific actions.

Meanwhile, a number of big opposition parties, particularly, the
People’s Party of Armenia, prefer taking time with formation of the
united headquarters: they say that in any case the opposition parties
will cooperate during the election.

RA PRIME MINISTER REFRAINED FROM PREDICTION ON NEW DEFENSE MINISTER OF ARMENIA

Arminfo
2007-04-06 13:52:00

The staff of the new Armenian Government will hardly differ from the
previous one, since the new Government will work for 40 days in all:
it will be dissolved after the parliamentary election, RA Prime
Minister Serzh Sargsyan told journalists today after the annual
session of the National Academy of Sciences.

"Assurance of the stable activity of the Government is above all
today", S. Sargsyan stressed and added that no changes will be
introduced in the Government’s activity. He also said that after the
new Government’s staff approval, the programme of its activity will
be submitted to the Parliament. "However, after the parliamentary
election, the political forces will have to submit a new and serious
programme to the legislative power", S. Sargsyan said. He gave no
forecasts regarding the new Defense Minister. Talking of the science
problems, S. Sargsyan noted that he intends to shortly meet scientists
and representatives of intelligentsia with no journalists present as
to better understand the exciting problems.

AUTHORITIES GREATLY SUPPORT SOLUTION OF EDUCATIONAL-CULTURAL PROBLEMS OF NATIONAL MINORITIES, ADVISER TO RA PRESIDENT ASSURES

Noyan Tapan
Apr 06 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. For discussing problems of national
minorities residing in Armenia in country’s upper links of power
and for solving them it is necessary that their representatives be
represented in the parliament.

Hranush Kharatian, Head of Department for Affairs of National
Minorities and Religion of RA government’s staff, expressed such
opinion at the April 6 press conference.

H. Kharatian said that the Department proposes adding a clause in
the law "On National Minorities," according to which the latters can
have their small elected groups. For instance, as H. Kharatian said,
Yezidis themselves will elect their representative body, with which
they will discuss any decision on national minorities adopted at
NA. The second proposal is to add one more clause in the same law,
according to which in populated areas where national minorities
make 15% of the total number of population, they should have their
representative in that local administration.

Sergo Yeritsian, Adviser to RA President, said that currently the most
urgent problems of national minorities are of educational-cultural
character. As he affirmed, the state provides great financial
assistance to their solution.

In particular, as S. Yeritsian said, Educational-Cultural Center of
National Minorities will open in the building of Chief Post Office
of Yerevan in ten days.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SHIRAK AIRPORT IN GYUMRI, ARMENIA, TO BE BROUGHT TO 1-CLASS LEVEL

Arminfo
2007-04-06 14:58:00

It is scheduled to start upgrading of the airport "Shirak" in Gyumri
in May, 2007, and complete it at the end of 2007, Head of the Central
Department of RA Civil Aviation Artiom Movsissyan told ArmInfo. After
upgrading, Shirak airport will not be passed under control of a
private company but the state, A. Movsissyan said. A total of 2,2 mln
drams (about $6 mln by the current rate ) were allocated by Armenia’s
budget for its upgrading, 1,7 mln drams of which will be invested to
repair the landing strip, the taxiways and parks, and 500 mln drams –
to install a runway lighting system. After upgrading, "Shirak" will
become the 1-class airport and foreign air companies will be able to
use that as an alternative one for carrying out international flights,
in force majeure connected with worsening of the weather in Zvartnots
airport of Yerevan. They avoided using this airport so far because of
the poor equipment and insufficiently flat landing strip, A. Movsissyan
noted. By unconfirmed data, the Argentine businessman Eduardo Eurnekyan
is concerned about getting airport "Shirak" under concession control.

HEAD OF EUROPEAN COMMISSION’S FOREIGN RELATIONS GENERAL ADMINISTRATION PLANS TO VISIT ARMENIA THIS YEAR

Noyan Tapan
Apr 06 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Acting Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian receiving Charge d’Affaires of European Commission’s
delegation in Armenia, Adviser Raul de Luzenberger on April 6,
expressed the hope that the latter’s activity will make a contribution
to activization of EU-Armenia cooperation.

Raul de Luzenberger conveyed Vartan Oskanian the message of Head
of Foreign Relations General Administration of European Commission
E. Landaburu, which expressed European side’s full readiness to assist
Armenia in the process of implementation of EU-Armenia Actions Plan
within the framework of European Neighborhood Policy.

According to the report provided to Noyan Tapan from RA Foreign
Ministry Press and Information Department, Raul de Luzenberger
mentioned European Commission’s interest at the level of ambassador
being represented in Yerevan, as well as said about E. Landaburu’s
intention to visit Armenia in the current year.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

57th SITTING OF COUNCIL OF HEADS OF FRONTIER DEPARTMENTS OF CIS MEMBER-STATES TO BE HELD IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Apr 06 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The 57th sitting of Council of
Commanders of Frontier Troops of CIS member-states will be held on
April 10-13 in Tsakhkadzor. As Noyan Tapan was informed from the
Press Service of RA National Security Service, at the Council sitting
they will discuss CIS program of fighting international terrorism
and extremism, issues of settlement of crisis situations, illegal
migration, narcobusiness, smuggling, issues connected with cooperation
aimed at counteracting to transportation of arms, ammunition through
the territory of CIS.

Representatives of CIS Executive Council, Secretariate of Defence
Ministers Council of CIS member-states, Collective Security Treaty
Organization, Secretariate of Integration Committee of Euroasian
Economic Cooperation, Anti-terrorism Center of CIS member-states have
submitted applications for taking part in the sitting.

Working meetings of experts of frontier departments of CIS
member-states will be held, sitting of Council on frontier affairs of
European Economic Cooperation member-states will be held on April
10-11. The general meeting of founders of Club of Heads of CIS
Member-States’ Frontier Departments will also take place.

HENCEFORTH ARMENIAN AIRLINES HAVE TO INSURE THEIR PASSENGERS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 06 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. Staring from April 7, the amendments
to the RA Law on Aviation will take effect, according to which
the airlines operating in Armenia have to insure their passengers,
which will not affect ticket prices. Head of the RA Civil Aviation
Main Department Artyom Movsesian stated this at the April 6 press
conference. According to him, the above mentioned amendments also
solved the problem of passenger rights protection. Particularly,
in case of a flight delay for two hours, the airline must provide
passengers with food, in case of over 4 hours’ delay, passengers must
be provided with communication means, and in case of over 8 hours’
delay, they must be provided with accomodation.

A. Movsesian said that there have been numerous cases when passengers
had no place in their plane, which is mainly due to lack of control
over activities of airlines. In the words of the department head, this
problem has been solved as well: henceforth the RA Civil Aviation Main
Department will consider as legal the operation of an agent which is
a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The
work of other air agents will be examined by the department, after
which a license will be granted.

A. Movsesian noted that as a result of amendments to the RA Law on
Administrative Infringements, the amount of fines have been increased
for violation of rules of passport and facility control, as well
as rules of specially protected zone entry: henceforth a fine in
the amount of 50-1,000 minimal salaries (1 mln drams or about 2.7
thousand dollars) will be imposed instead of the previous fine of
10-30% of salary.

The fine for using radiotechnical devices by passengers of the plane
have also been increased. The Civil Aviation Main Department will
fine passengers for smoking in the plane immediately after the landing.

A. Movsesian said that from now on airlines will not pay 10 mln drams
for operation of non-regular flights, which will facilitate their
entrance into the Armenian market.

The speaker noted that 12 airlines have the right to operate planes in
Armenia. In general, over 20 airlines operate in the Armenian market.

ALAVERDI HAS ALL PRECONDITIONS FOR ECOMING TOURISM CENTER

Noyan Tapan
Apr 06 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. 11 mln 175 thousand drams (about 30
thousand USD) was allocated from the 2006 RA state budget for drafting
the master plan of Tashir community (Lori marz), 10 mln 784 thousand
drams for the master plan of Akhtala community (Lori marz) and 15
mln 900 thousand drams – for the master plan of Alaverdi community
of the same marz.

The RA Minister of Urban Development Aram Harutyunian said at the
April 6 discussion that Armproject OJSC has done work on drafting
of Tashir and Akhtala communities’ master plans, while Scientific
Research Institute of Urban Development CJSC has drafted the master
plan of Alaverdi community.

Arsen Arustamian, author of the draft master plan of Alaverdi
community, noted that being located in one of Armenia’s picturesque
places and having a rich historic and cultural legacy, the city of
Alaverdi has all preconditions for becoming a center of tourism. With
this aim, in his words, it is envisaged to implement tree planting
and road construction work, build two funicular ropeways, as well as
to open a tourism center in the city.

In the draft master plans of Tashir and Akhtala communities, priority
is given to engineering, environmental protection measures, as well
as to work on reconstruction of water supply and sewerage systems.

49.7 MILLION DRAMS ALLOCATED FROM 2007 STATE BUDGET FOR MAJOR REPAIRS OF HOSPITAL AND BOILER-HOUSE OF TASHIR CITY

Noyan Tapan
Apr 06 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. 49 mln 72 thousand drams (about 136
thousand USD) has been allocated from the 2007 RA state budget for
major repairs of the hospital and boiler-house of the city of Tashir
(Lori marz), 60 mln drams – for repairs of Tashir secondary school No
4. The RA Minister of Urban Development Aram Harutyunian told this
to reporters on April 6. According to him, 70 mln drams has been
allocated from this year’s state budget for repairs of Vocational
Educational SNCO of the city of Alaverdi.

The minister said that repair work of Tashir’s hospital and
boiler-house started in 2006, for which 12 mln drams was allocated
from the state budget. 30 mln drams was provided last year for major
repairs of Vocational Educational SNCO.

DYNAMICS OF FOREIGN INVESTMENT GROWTH IN ARMENIAN ECONOMY TO BE MAINTAINED

Noyan Tapan
Apr 06 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The dynamics of foreign investments’
growth in the Armenian economy will be maintained and in 2007 it will
also represent a two-digit number. The Deputy Minister of Trade and
Economic Development Tigran Davtian made this forecast at the April
6 press conference. He substantiated his statement by the fact that
a number of foreign large-scale investment program are underway in
Armenia and new ones will be implemented.

The speaker noted that in 2006, the investment inflows into the
Armenian economy (including those through the state governance system
and the banking system) made 604.3 mln dollars, which is more by
18.9% than in the previous year. Investments in the real sector of
the economy made 444 mln dollars, exceeding by 10.9% the 2005 index.

In 2006, 135.1 mln USD of these investments were made in the
communication sector, 66 mln USD – in mining industry, 62.6 mln USD
– in air transport. 45.2 mln USD – in metallurgy, 20.2 mln USD in
production, storage and distribution of electricity, gas and water,
17.2 mln USD – in construction, 16.9 mln USD – in production of food
and drinks, 16.3 mln USD – in hotel, restaurant and recreational
services, 13.8 mln USD – in information technologies and research,
13.4 mln USD – in trade, and 12.1 mln USD in financial mediation
and insurance.